Menu

Offbeat Places to Explore In Vietnam

Vietnam, located on the South China Sea, is popular for its pristine beaches, beautiful rivers, a number of Buddhist pagodas and cities bustling with cultural sites and restaurants. All these factors make it an exciting and fun-filled holiday destination.

Most of the people who book tickets for Vietnam have a fixed itinerary comprising of the most popular tourist attractions. But if you want to experience the cultural and historical aspects, taking a stroll through the offbeat paths is the best way to so. Have a look at some of the offbeat places to visit on your trip to Vietnam.

Bai Tu Long

If you are looking for a getaway from the usual tourist itinerary, you can do away with Halong Bay and head to Bait Tu Long. Situated on the North-Eastern part of Halong Bay, the area spreads across 100 kilometres, up to the border of China! The best part is you will see almost the same things you would have seen in Halong Bay such as incredible limestone karsts, minus the crowds of tourists.

Mai Chau

While most of the tourists and trekkers go to Sapa, dodge the crowd for a breath of fresh air at Mai Chau. The locals swear by the place, as it hasn’t been adulterated by the tourists, yet. Situated about 3-4 hours’ drive from Hanoi, the fog-filled rice paddies here are like a dream. The place also allows you to get close to the native ethnic tribes. Instead of wearing elaborate, “touristy” costumes which will make you look out of place, wear simple track suits. Make sure that you join the celebrations during the nights when the White Thai tribe performs various types of cultural and local dances. A game akin to hopscotch is also played and there is a communal feast and drinks.

Hue

Hue is the central point of the Northern and Southern routes in the country. The city was once the royal capital during the 17th century and has also served as Vietnam’s capital for some time. It is one of the most important historical sites in the country. While the landmarks and historical buildings in the citadel were damaged during the war, with the help of UNESCO, extensive restoration has been carried out.